Dispenser valves



March 18, 1969 o. e. MUELLER 3,433,456

DISPENSER VALVES Filed Oct. 19. 1965 INVENTOR 27 OSCAR G. MUELLER Z5 F/ G. 4 BY jgfimm United States atcnt 3,433,456 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 3,433,456 DISPENSER VALVES Oscar G. Mueller, Grand Island, Nebr., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Mind, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Oct. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 497,812

U.S. 'Cl. 251339 Claims Int. Cl. F16k 21/04, 31/12 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a simple plastic valve which is made in two main parts. The valve body includes a sleeve having a closed end through which a hollow valve member may slide. A pair of opposed arms are provided on the outer end of the sleeve which are connected by a strap extending across the axis of the sleeve. The strap and valve member are inter-connected, the strap acting to pull the valve member closed. A valve outlet is provided in the sleeve through which liquid may flow when the strap is flexed to open the valve.

This invention relates to an improvement in dispenser valves and deals particularly with a molded plastic valve which may be made at a sufiiciently low cost so that it may be discarded after use.

During recent years, the use of plastic bags for containing liquid products has been greatly increased. The cost of plastic film has decreased very materially and heat sealing equipment used in making the bags is also readily available. As a result, it has been found economical to package even relatively low cost fluids such as two and one-half gallons of milk in a plastic bag contained within an outer corrugated container. One of the most expensive parts of such packages lies in the means of controlling the flow of fluid from the bag. An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a valve capable of controlling the flow of fluid from a bag, and which may be produced at low enough cost to be discarded with the bag and container after the product has been dispensed.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a valve formed completely of two simple parts. The wall thickness of the plastic valve is substantially equal throughout the entire body, permitting the valve to be formed with a. short molding cycle. The outlet of the valve is effectively protected from dust and dirt. The seat of the valve is closely adjacent to the discharge spout leaving but a small area of moistened surface exposed after the valve has been used.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a disposable valve of the type described which is formed of two simple molded parts which may, if desired, be assembled by merely snapping the two parts together. When assembled, the valve element is normally urged into closed position by the resiliency of the material itself.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a valve element having a hollow stem and a frusto-conical inner end, the interior of which is exposed to the interior of the bag. As a result, the spring force tending to hold the valve in closed position is assisted by the pressure of the product against the valve.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the spring which holds the valve closed is formed integrally with the body of the valve, and may be formed to provide any reasonable amount of spring pressure tending to hold the valve closed. In actual practice, the spring force tending to close the valve is maintained at a minimum in order to make the valve easier to open.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a valve having a body which is generally elbow-shaped in form and which supports a slidable valve stem extending through the bend of the elbow. The valve body is cast with a pair of integral arms projecting laterally on opposite sides of the bend of the elbow, and an integral connecting portion extending across the bend of the elbow from one arm to the other. When the valve stem is snap-connected to the center portion of this connecting member, the valve may be opened by placing two fingers behind the oppositely-directed arms and pressing on the end of the valve stem with the thumb. When this pressure is released, the valve will close automatically due to the resiliency of the material.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

'FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the valve in dispensing position.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the valve, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of FIGURES 1 and 3.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the assembled valve.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the valve before it is attached to the bag.

The valve which comprises the present invention is indicated in general by the letter A. The valve A is designed for use in combination with a flexible platsic liquidcontaining bag indicated in general by the letter B. The bag B is enclosed within a rectangular container, the container being indicated in general by the letter C.

The details of the outer container C are not of importance to the present invention so that the construction is not illustrated in detail. For the purpose of this invenion, it is believed sufficient to say that the container C usually comprises a corrugated paperboard container having closure flaps on the ends, certain of which are perforated to provide an aperture 10 through which the valve A may extend when the liquid product is to be dispensed.

The bag B is provided with a generally-cylindrical outlet sleeve 11 having a thin peripheral flange 12 at the inner end thereof which is sealed to the wall .13 of the bag B. The sleeve 11 fits through an aperture 14 in the bag wall 13 so as to provide communication with the interior of the bag. The sleeve 11 is provided with a peripheral flange 15 which is spaced from the flange 12 a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of the paperboard of the container C. The outlet sleeve 11 also includes a short peripheral flange 16 at its outer end, preferably spaced from the flange 15 a distance at least as great as the thickness of the paperboard from which the container is formed. The sleeve 11 is also provided with a shallow inwardly-extending flange 17 at its outer end. The flange .17 is designed to form a retaining flange for holding the body of the valve A engaged in the outlet sleeve 11.

The valve A includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve 19 substantially equal in length to the outlet sleeve 11 and which is of proper diameter to flt snugly within the outlet sleeve 11. The sleeve 19 is provided with a shallow peripheral flange 20 designed to fit snugly within the outlet sleeve 11 and to engage against the flange -17 in edge-abutting relation. A peripheral flange 21 is provided at the outer end of the sleeve 19, the flanges 20 and 21 being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the inwardly-extending flange 17 on the outlet sleeve lll.

A frusto-conical connecting portion 22 is integrally connected at its large diameter end to the forward end of the sleeve 19. A substantially cylindrical sleeve 23 extends through the small diameter end of the connecting portion 22, and is integrally connected intermediate its ends thereto. As a result, the sleeve 23 is provided with an inwardly-extending sleeve portion 24 designed to act as a valve seat, and an outwardly-extending portion 25 beyond the connecting portion 22. A tubular discharge spout 26 extends angularly from the sleeve 25 and communicates with the interior thereof. The contents of the bag B are designed to be discharged through the spout 26, as will be later described.

As is indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, a pair of diametrically-opposed arms 27 are integrally connected to the outer end portion of the sleeve 23, and the inner ends of the arms 27 are reinforced by centrally located reinforcing ribs 29 forming gussets between the wall of the sleeve 23 and the arms 27. The arms 27 diverge outwardly and forwardly from the sleeve 23, and the forward extremities 28 of the arms 27 extend in generally parallel relation forwardly of the outer end of the sleeve 23. The ends 28 of the arms 27 are connected by a transversely-extending strap or web 30 which is substantially on a plane normal to the axis of the sleeve 23. The central portion 31 of the strap 30 is made of increased thickness to reinforce this portion of the strap. An aperture including a small diameter inner aperture portion 32 and a larger diameter outer aperture portion 33 extends through the reinforced portion 31 of the strap 30, the aperture being coaxial with the sleeve 23. As indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, an elongated slot 34 extends through the strap 30, extending longitudinally thereof and intersecting the axes of the coaxial apertures.

The valve member used in conjunction with the valve body is indicated in general by the numeral 35, and is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The valve member 35 includes a hollow cylindrical stem 36 which is slidably supported in an aperture 37 through the closed outer end 39 of the sleeve 23. A hollow frusto-conical valve element 40 is connected coaxially at its smaller diameter end to the inner end of the valve stem 36. The large diameter end 41 of the valve element 40 is of equal or larger diameter to the outer diameter of the sleeve 23 so that the frusto-conical outer surface of the valve element 40 may seat against the end of the sleeve portion 24 as indicated in FIGURE 1.

The valve stem 36 is provided with a closed outer end 42 which supports a coaxial projection 43 which is usually cylindrical. The projection 43 is provided with an enlarged head 44 which is spaced from the closed end 42 of the valve rod a distance equal to or slightly greater than the length of the smaller diameter portion 43 of the aperture through the strap 30. The head 44 is outwardly tapered as indicated at 45 so that the head 44 may more easily be inserted through the strap 30. The base 45 of the head is designed to engage against the shoulder formed between the two aperture portions 32 and 33 which are of different diameter.

As indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the spout 26 is preferably provided with an 'angularly inclined lower extremity, with the inner side of the spout extending substantially below the outer side thereof. The purpose of this construction is to permit air to enter the sleeve 23 as soon as the valve is turned off, and to minimize the draining time of the valve outlet. This arrangement is of advantage in preventing the slow draining and dripping of the valve.

After the two parts of the valve have been formed, they are assembled by merely forcing the valve member 35 through the sleeve 23 from the inner end thereof. The cylindrical portion 36 of the valve member is slidably supported in the aperture 37 in the closed end of the sleeve 23. When the valve member 35 is fully inserted, the head 44 of the projection 43 is forced through the smaller diameter aperture 32 in the strap 30, the sides of the strap spreading apart on opposite sides of the slot 34 to permit the insertion of the head. When the head 44 passes through the aperture 32, the strap snaps together into its normal form, locking the portion of the strap between the inner end of the aperture 33 and the inner surface of the strap between the closed end 42 of the valve member 35 and the head 44 on the projection 43.

The valve thus formed is then forced into the outlet sleeve 11 of the bag B, the outlet sleeve 11 and the sleeve 19 flexing sutficiently to permit this insertion. When the valve is fully inserted, the peripheral flange on the sleeve 19 abuts the inwardly extending flange 17 on the sleeve 11 to hold the two parts assembled with a liquid-tight joint.

Thus it will be seen that the valve A may be made inexpensively enough to be discarded after use. The two parts of the valve are merely snapped together, and the valve is completely assembled. Due to the funnel-like shape of the valve member, the pressure of the liquid within the bag B combines with the resiliency of the strap 30 to hold the valve member against its seat. Thus the tension on the valve member supplied by the strap 30 need be only slightly in excess of the force necessary to hold the valve member against its seat. This results in a valve which may be easily opened.

In operating the valve, two fingers are placed behind the two arms 27 and the center portion 31 of the strap 30 is pressed with the thumb, moving the valve member 35 inwardly away from the end of the sleeve 23 and allowing liquid to flow from the bag B about the valve member and through the discharge spout 26.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in dispenser valves; while I have endeavored to set forth best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising:

a plastic body including:

a substantially cylindrical .tubular end portion,

a fr-usto-conical connecting portion having its large diameter end secured to said tubular end portion,

a sleeve connected to the small diameter end of said frusto-conical connecting portion,

said sleeve having an angularly related discharge spout communicating with the interior thereof,

said sleeve having a closed outer end on the end most remote from said tubular end portion,

a valve stem extending through said closed outer end and slidably supported thereby,

a frusto-conical valve element connected at its small diameter end to the inner end of said valve stem and having its conical surface engageable against the inner end of said sleeve, and

resilient operating means integral with said plastic body outwardly of said sleeve connected to closed end of said valve stem and normally holding said frustoconical valve element surface against the inner end of said sleeve.

2. A valve comprising:

an integral plastic body including:

a substantially cylindrical tubular end portion,

a frusto-conical connection portion having its large diameter end connected to said tubular end portion,

a sleeve extending through the small diameter end of said connecting portion and having a closed outer end on the end most remote from said tubular end portion of said body,

a valve stem extending through said closed sleeve end and slidalbly supported thereby,

a frusto-conical valve element having its small diam eter end secured to the inner end of said valve stem and having its larger diameter end of greater diameter than said sleeve, the frusto-conical surface of said valve element being engageable with the inner end of said sleeve to provide a valve seat,

an angularly extending valve spout communicating with the interior of said sleeve,

a pair of resilient arms secured to, and integral With,

said sleeve body and extending in diametrically opposed relation outwardly and forwardly of the closed outer end of said sleeve,

a resilient connecting member connecting the forward ends of said arms and intersecting the axis of said sleeve, and

means connecting the forward end of said valve stem to said resilient connecting member.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said frustoconical valve element and said stem being hollow and including a closed forward end on said valve stem.

4. The structure of claim 2 and in which the means connecting said valve stem comprises a projection on the forward end of said valve stem, and said connecting member includes an aperture in which said projection is frictionally engaged.

5. The structure of claim 2 and in which said resilient connecting member is integral with said arms.

6. A valve including:

a unitary plastic valve body and a valve member,

said valve body including:

a hollow cylindrical inner end portion,

a hollow frusto-conical connection portion connected at its large diameter end to said inner end portion,

a sleeve extending through, and integrally connected to, the small diameter end of said connecting portion,

a closed outer end on said sleeve having an aperture therethrough,

an angularly extending tubular spout connected to, and communicating with, said sleeve outwardly of said connecting portion,

a pair of arms extending in diametrically opposed relation from said sleeve and extending forwardly of the closed end of said sleeve,

a resilient strap connecting the forward ends of said arms and on a plane substantially normal to the axis of said sleeve, the strap intersecting the sleeve axis,

a socket in said strap coaxial with said aperture in said colsed end of said sleeve,

the valve member including a valve stem extending through, and slidably supported by, the closed end of said sleeve,

a frusto-conical valve element having its small diameter end connected to the inner end of said valve stern and having its surface engageable with the inner end of said sleeve to provide a valve seat, and

an axial projection on the outer end of said valve stem engageable in said socket.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which said valve stem and said valve element are hollow, and including a closed outer end on said valve stem.

8. The structure of claim 6 and including a peripheral flange encircling said hollow cylindrical portion adjacent the outer end thereof.

9. The structure of claim 6 and in which said projection includes a head at its outer end.

10. The structure of claim 6 and in which said socket comprises an aperture through said strap and a slot intersecting said aperture, and said projection includes a headed outer end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 358,219 2/1887 Peter 251353 XR 401,288 4/1889 Maier 251-35'3 XR 987,633 3/1911 Long 251-322 1,078,213 11/1913 Patnaude 251-353 2,310,599 2/1943 Roach 251-353 XR 2,713,988 7/1955 Kitterman 251-322 2,744,665 571956 Carlson et a1. 251353 XR 2,792,669 5/1957 Jackson et al. 251353 XR 2,912,173 11/1959 Edwards 251353 XR SAMUEL SCOTT, Primary Examiner. 

